International Career
Mensah played on Ghana's superb Under-20 National Team that went to the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship Final versus host nation Argentina in the summer of that year. Starting every match at centre-half, the youngster crossed paths with – and eliminated – future stars of the calibre of Adriano, Kaká, Julio Baptista on 1 July 2001, when Ghana knocked out Brazil on a Mensah golden goal in the 4th minute of Extra Time in the Quarter Finals of that Tournament. and Djibril Cissé . (Tied after 90 minutes, the Ghana – Brazil game entered extra time with an excited crowd knowing that the next goal would decide the match. Throwing caution to the wind, Ghana went forward and forced a corner in the fourth minute. In came the cross and John Mensah got in front of his marker to send a firm header over the line, ousting Brazil.)
Mensah’s senior debut for the Black Stars came against Algeria on 5 December 2001 just after his 19th birthday, on the eve of the 2002 African Cup of Nations finals in Mali, a tournament at which his aerial ability was a prominent feature of Ghana’s play.
Since then, he has been a regular for the national team, playing almost every single game since then, rising in the rank of importance to become the assistant-captain of the National Team and now has 42 caps as of 27 March 2007. Mensah played for the Ghana Olympic Team known as the Black Meteors in the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2006, he participated in his second African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt, and was solidity personified during Ghana’s successful qualifying campaign for 2006 FIFA World Cup.
He was involved in the 2006 FIFA World Cup with his national side. Ghana qualified for a final 16 tie against defending champions Brazil with a 2–1 victory over the USA in their final group stage match. After the final whistle, Mensah lifted his team jersey to reveal a T-shirt displaying "John Mensah – Rock of Gibraltar", his nickname in Ghana.
The coach of Ghana during 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ratomir Dujkovic cited Mensah for high commendations after the tournament.
Mensah was selected in the 2006 African Nations Cup All-Star Team of the Tournament by the Confederation of African Football in February 2006. On 3 February 2008, Mensah was sent off in a Cup of Nations quarter final game against Nigeria for a professional foul against Odemwinge. Ghana went on to win the match 2–1 with goals from Michael Essien and a later winner scored by Junior Agogo. In 2010, Mensah captained Ghana to an impressive quarter final finish at the World Cup.
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